Punjab Ministers, Brahm Mohindra, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Aruna Chaudhry and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot have lambasted Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema for demanding the revocation of all decisions of the cabinet in view of the quashing of Suresh Kumar’s appointment by the High Court.

In a statement issued here, the Ministers said Cheema had exposed his total ignorance about the functioning of the government with his senseless demand. Cheema had himself been a minister in the Akali government and should be aware of the manner in which cabinet decisions are taken, they said, adding that anyone questioning the functioning of the Council of Ministers merely because of the presence of bureaucrats in the meetings was clearly oblivious of the needs of governance.

Cheema should know that decisions taken at meetings of the Council of Ministers are taken by the ministers and not by the officers who are allowed, for functional reasons, to attend these meetings, said the Ministers. Perhaps the Akalis had a different style of functioning, where bureaucrats and officers were allowed to interfere in cabinet proceedings and decisions, which could explain Cheema’s unreasonable demand, they added.

By raising such a demand, Cheema had not only shown his ignorance about established government procedures but also his scant respect to democratic institutions, said the Ministers. The cabinet was competent to allow any officer to attend any of its meetings, but the final decision was always taken by the Council of Ministers collectively, they pointed out.

The ministers described Suresh Kumar as an outstanding officer, who had served in different capacities in State and Central governments with an excellent track record.